Roulette is one of the most intriguing casino games; the origins of the modern version of the game are somewhat obscure. There are thousands of possible betting combinations one can make. Whether you are a seasoned gambler or a curious beginner, understanding the rules of the roulette table is crucial.  

Although it is defined as a game of chance, many professional players and enthusiasts believe that certain strategies and knowledge about the game could help players increase their chances of winning. Let’s take a deep dive into the rules one needs to know about UK roulette online, roulette wheels, and roulette tournaments, including roulette bets and strategies, payouts, and overall gameplay. 

The roulette 

A standard roulette table consists of a spinning wheel and a betting layout. The wheel is divided into a number of pockets, alternating in colour between red and black.

The roulette wheel is divided into 38 spaces. Numbers 1 through 36 are coloured red or black. The 0 and 00 are green. Play begins when the players place their bets on the numbered layout. The dealer spins the ball in the opposite direction that the wheel is spinning. A few revolutions before the ball drops, the dealer will announce, “No more bets.” The dealer will mark the number on which the ball has landed and pay all winning bets accordingly.

How the game is played 

There are three basic approaches to playing the game. The first and most common way of playing is to use no system at all. This is the way the typical person plays, scattering chips all over the layout, playing favourite numbers based on his birth date, lucky numbers, or just plain randomly. While it is possible to win playing this way, any winnings would have to be attributed to luck.

The second approach is to apply a mechanical system to the game. There have been more systems devised for roulette than for any other casino table game, as the roulette layout lends itself to almost endless combinations of wagering. Some of the roulette systems have exotic sounding names, such as Martingale, Labouchere, and Fisher strategy, to name a few. 

A third approach is to look for biassed wheels. Since it is impossible to make a physically perfect roulette wheel, the biassed-wheel player will seek to detect mechanical defects in the wheel by “clocking the wheel.” To clock the wheel of roulette means statistically analysing the results and then determining whether an advantage can be gained or not.

Odds and Probabilities 

There are various types of bets one can place on online roulette, each with its own odds and probabilities. It’s important to understand the different types of bets and their odds before trying out online roulette. 

The types of bets one can place on roulette include straight, split, inside bets, column bets, and colour bets. 

Bets	Odds
Straight	35 to 1
Split	17 to 1
Three Numbers	11 to 1
Four Numbers	8 to 1
First Five Numbers	6 to 1
Six numbers	5 to 1
Seven numbers	4 to 1
Eight numbers	3 to 1
Column	2 to 1
Dozen	2 to 1
Red	1 to 1
Black	1 to 1
Odd	1 to 1
Even	1 to 1
1 to 18	1 to 1
19 to 36	1 to 1